720- running 2cyls!

[Red Patrol 84]

Got an '84 720 4x4 pickup Z22 motor! appears to be only running on 2 cyls, pulled leads off 1x1 with motor running, 1&2 the engine stopped 3&4 MADE NO DIFFERENCE! Tried new plugs, leads, points have correct gap, timing ok, no wires or hoses off or broken so nothing obvious! No other symptoms, Not running hot, no oil in coolant or vice versa, but am thinking it's in the early stages of headgasket failure! Any other suggestions before I take it to pieces? (Apart form rag down petrol tank & flick your Bic)

[mkpatrol]

It is pretty common for the old Datto L & Z series engines to blow the head gasket between the cylinders.

They are basically the same engine, one just has a cross flow head.

Compression test is your friend, of another way is to plug one hole & see if you get compression twice while cranking.

Fair bet its the head gasket if it has gone suddenly.

[clm434]

First off would do a leak-down test before pulling things apart. Also have you tried another coil, could be another option.

[hillbilliywheelchair]

have u cheked dissy cap and roterbutten my old datto rally car usedto do the same thing and it was always the dissy cap

[Red Patrol 84]

Thanks to everyone, some of those things have crossed my mind also, have some spares, will give them atry before going any further! Gave it the chemiweld treatment, made no difference, had a look at dizzy cap, pretty worn, good candiate, for replacement, worth a go! still no real symptoms of headgasket as in previous post, but is running worse than ever, may even be down to 1 cyl now!

[roblrc]

do the leak down or compression test both wet and dry cuts out all the guessing. Make sure you have a good battery for the compression test. Check valve clearances before pulling apart.

[Red Patrol 84]

Can't access equipment locally for leakdown, but have compression tester. Called 2 Sprint stores today in search of cap & rotor, was told 1stly, that my engine didn't exist, there was no such thing as a Z22 engine & when I insisted that there is, I know because I have 1 I was told that neither Bosch or Champion have a listing for those parts! Ute's an import,I had to go genuine, so I called Nissan dealer, & yes they can get the parts but they must be ordered from Japan & will take about 15 days to get here, cap $46, rotor $16! I ordered & paid but would've felt better about it if they had held a gun on me! Can anyone, for future reference, tell me where I can get parts over the counter & at a reasonable price in Australia! Recently attempted to buy unis for rear tailshaft, could only get 1s for front shaft, couldn't find a s/hand shaft either! Am driving in front wheel drive at the moment as I took rear shaft out because stuffed unis were causing,enormous vibration throughout the entire vehicle, so bad that you couldn't go over about 50kph! You couldn't speak at the same time, it was so bad!

[Red Patrol 84]

New dizzy cap & rotor arrived from Japan today & I fitted them but that's not the problem, still the same! Back to the old drawing board!

[clm434]

Sounds like it'd just be easier to get another vehicle...got insurance?

[Red Patrol 84]

Would get a new 1 in a heartbeat but no $ (pensioner)! Sadly no fire & theft ins!

[mkpatrol]

New dizzy cap & rotor arrived from Japan today & I fitted them but that's not the problem, still the same! Back to the old drawing board!

See my original post, if you have a guage it would have cost you nothing but time.

[Red Patrol 84]

Items needed replacing anyway! Guess I was in denial, I so didn't want it to be a headgasket but, as you say it more than likely is!